Skywatch Friday...Kobe

 

I took these pictures in the Meriken Park on the waterfront of Kobe city. The 108-meter red tower is the Port Tower, which is the landmark of Kobe. The white net-like roof is Kobe Marine Museum.

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Thursday Challenge...Happy

I found this cat sleeping in the shade.  He/She knows where to have a good nap. I am happy to see this relaxed cat.
This is part of Thursday Challenge. This week's challenge is 'Happy'. Visit and see more happy pics.

Ruby Tuesday

This is part of Ruby Tuesday 2.

Mellow Yellow Monday

I found this yellow mashroom in the pond in the Expo Park, Osaka.
I dedicate this post to Mellow Yellow Monday.

Monkey Mountain

I took these pictures in Mt. Iwatayama Monkey Park, Kyoto, Japan. It is a park located on the top of the 160-meter mountain. As many as 150 Japanese monkeys live freely. You can feed them from inside the cottage. If you feed outside, many monkeys might dash to you to snatch peanuts out of your hands.

    Looks like people are in the cage.

A monkey is about to drink water.

You can see not only the real monkey life but also the nice view of Kyto city.

 

This monkey is busy to find something to eat.

This is part of Scenic Sunday.

Weekend Reflections

I took this picture on the street near my house. This puddle was not made after the rain, but people sprinkled water around their house to lower the temperature of the road surface. To me this puddle gave a good reflection of the blue sky and the white clouds.
Have a nice weekend.
This is part of Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday

Here in Osaka hot days higher than 35 degrees have continued for a month. We have a sunny weather with no clouds every day. But in the early evening clouds appeared suddenly and we get thunderstorm in some parts of Osaka.
The brown building on the left is Osaka History Museum and the right one is NHK broadcasting station. Both are located near the Osaka Castle.

How is the weather today around your place?

This is part of Skywatch Friday.

Mazinger Z

In the Toei Animation Museum

Yesterday I went to the Toei Studio Park in Kyoto with my guests from France. A male guest is a big fan of Japanese manga, especially the series of  'Mazinger Z'. He looked sooooo happy when taken picture in front of his hero.

I post this to Ruby Tuesday 2.

Pumpkin Tart

I found this pumpkin tart in front of the cafe. It is decorated with chocolates and some nuts. Surely it's yummy.

This is part of Mellow Yellow Monday.

Unstable Weather

This afternoon the weather was unstable in Osaka. Dark clouds appeared  when I was driving to my daughter with my hubby. You can see a round building front, which we go through by car. I don't know why, but it gives us some unique experience in going through.

The castle-like building on the right is a glasses shop.  And green plants are rice. In a month or so, I see rice harvest around this area.

Finally it started rain cats and dogs. What a downpour!  Some lower roads were submerged and temporarily affected, and policemen were standing in the crossing to control traffic.

Pink Bloom

The long-blooming crape myrtle is really admirable. The symbolic blossom of summer.

I dedicate this post to Floral Friday Fotos and Pink Saturday.

Thursday Challenge...Leisure

This week's challenge is 'leisure'.  See more fun pictures here.

Owl Trunk

I found 'Owl Trunk' on the opposite side when I walked along the Kurobe River.

Isn't that a great work of nature?

This is part of Water World Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

Sushi Time

How does it taste?  Of course, super great! It cost 980 Japanese yen (12 US dollars) with miso soup. Customer-friendly price. I found a nice sushi restaurant yesterday.

 This post is part of Our World Tuesday and Ruby Tuesday 2.

Playground Equipment

I found these equipments in the small park nearby supermarket. I bet kids play with them in less hot time of the day. I found no one playing during day.

This is part of Mellow Yellow Monday and Blue Monday.

Monday Mural

This facade is part of the Nakanoshima Festival Tower in Kita ward, Osaka, which is under construction for opening this autumn. I am familiar with this facade, because there used to be a popular concert hall called the Festival Hall.

The Tower is about 200 meters of 39 floors above and 3 below underground. The lower floors will hold the Festival Hall, and the floors above that will hold the head office of Asahi Shimbun, one of the major newspaper companies in Japan. The higher floors will be rental office space.

It is proud of its heating and cooling system using river water, double-layered sashes enabling recirculation control of the air inside the windows, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 40 %.

I post this to Monday Mural.

Weekend Reflections

I took these pictures at an intersection on my way home. I didn't drive a car, but was on a bus at that time. When I found this sunset reflection, I hurried to take my camera from my bag. But a little too late to press the shutter button. Still I like the first photo.

This is part of Weekend Reflections.

Floral Friday Fotos

I know this is an alpine flower, but I don't know its name. Even though it is not flash, some creature come to touch it.

This is part of Floral Friday Fotos.

Ruby Owls

These are Mino Pottery owls. As you see, the bright red color is its striking characteristic.
MIno is located in the northern part of Osaka Prefecture, next to my hometown Toyonaka.

This post is pat of Ruby Tuesday 2 and Our World Tuesday.

Kurobe trolley train

The torokko trolley train that moves along the Kurobe Gorge Railway was originally built to shuttle workers to construction sites for the various dams located throughout the Gorge. It runs for about an hour and 20 minutes one way from Unazuki Station to its terminal point, Keyakidaira Station. The route is packed with beautiful views of the Gorge.

This is part of Mellow Yellow Monday .

Weekend Reflections

I found these reflections in the 2.400-meter highland named Murodo in Mt. Tateyama.
I can't stop showing off the joy I felt in that place.

How about enjoying more reflections here?

Flower Fire

Summer is the season for firework shows in Japan. Today big firework displays were held in many places in Japan. I went to see Kobe Firework Show at the Kobe port. I was so excited to see, hear and feel 10.000 fireworks!!  Great time.

Thank you for sending your kind heart.
My mother gets much better and will come out of the hospital next Monday. Luckily her knee's pain has gone away little by little. Still she can't walk without a walking aid. I'm concerned how her life will be at home after she comes home on Monday. I hope she will get well enough to walk by herself soon.

I dedicate this post to Scenic Sunday.